Dump-trailer hitch means



June 11, 1929 A. P. ARMINGTON ET A1 1,716,810

1 DUMP TRAILER HITCH MEANS Filed April lO. 1929 INVENTOR /Iff/w//QA Ng?/PM/A/Grom Sum/A97' FARM/Naro ATTORNEYS Patented .lune 11, 1929.

UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR P. ARMINGTON AND STEWART F. ARMINGTON, OF WILLOUG-HBY, OHIO,

.ASSIG-NORS TO THE EUCLID CRANE & HOIST COMPANY, OF EUCLID, OHIO, ACORPO- RATION OF OHIO.

Originalapplication led September 7, 1928, Serial No. 304,462. Dividedand this application led April 10, 1929.l Serial No. 354,031.

This invention relates to earth moving apparatus of the dump trailertype and adapted for use in a train with other similar trailers, asdrawn by a heavy-duty tractor between loading and dumping positions.

A typical dump trailer ofthe class to which reference is had, comprisesas itsprincipal parts a load container, a frame, mobile supporting meanstherefor, and hitch means.

'l he principal parts of the container are a hopper opening downwardlyand, of course, open at its top, and gate means associated with thebottom opening of the hopper to control dumping of the load therefrom,and lwhich may take the form of doors swinging downwardly and outwardlyfrom closed positi-on, about longitudinal axes.

The frame is of generally rectangular form, rigid, and convenientlyfabricated of structural steel sections, with castings associatedtherewith'if desired. Where the frame is of considerable depth it may beso arranged relative to the hopper that portions of the frame cooperatetherewith to define the loadcontaining volume, in which case the hoppergates are more conveniently mounted onthe frame, as in hinged relationwith the side members thereofg-the frame also having in such case,transverse members assaciated with the lower end extremities of thehopper bottom, to define the frame dump clearance.

As tothe mobile supporting means of the trailer, this tinventionparticularly contemplates a locationI thereof intermediate, andpreferably substantially medial of the ends 'of the vehicle; and arelationship between the supporting means and the other parts of thevehicle such that said parts may tilt as a unit upon the supportingmeans and in a longitudinal plane, and whereby the distribution of load,both live and dead, will be substantiallyequal and uniform fore and aftof the axis of tilt. In other words the trailer is of the so-called carttype, that is, equipped with a single running gear means such as asingle pair of wheels by jwhich substantially all of the load iscarried, in substantially'balanced relation thereon. Such suportingmeans comprise generally medially ocated axle means and running gearassociated therewith. The axle means, by which termis included an aXleor something to replace the same as 1n substitution therefor,

is generally of arched form in order that the hopper may be sutlicientlyelevated to clear the dumped load, that the axle means may arch overthe' dumped load to clear the same, that the running gear dimensions maybe less than would otherwise be possible, and that the container gatemeans may be cleared of the load when in open position; and the axlemeans may comprise an about which are trained an endless tread.

linkage. l

Hitch means arev of course located at the `forward and rear ends of thevehicle, as secured with and preferably centrally of the frame endmembers.

The subject matter of the present case per-' tains to the hitch means,and this case is a division of our copending application, Serial No.304,462, filed September 7, 1928.

As already described, the working con-l ditions require that' the framehave considerable elevation above the ground level; and. for certainwell-established reasons this elevation is lixed with considerablecertainty.

Unfortunately, for other equally well-established reasons, jtractorhitch means are fairly standard in elevation, and much lower than thenecessary elevation vof trailer frames. Also, the usual tractor hitchmeans are located on the tractor axleand thus substantially between therear wheels of the tractor, whether or not tread linkage is associatedwith these wheels. Thus a problem of considerable diiiiculty and equalimportance of solution presents'itself in the arrangement f means forestablishing connection between the tractor drawbar or hitch means andthe frame of the dump trailer. Manysolutions of this problem have beenattempted. The trailer being balanced upon a 'single central axle meansas it were, the drawbar connection must be'rigid` as to either thetractor or the trailer. Rigidity with the kso I tractor may be dismissedas structurally impraeti Iable. Where the drawbar means 1s rigid withthe trailer, if it takes the form of a yoke or bail with a pair ofmembers converging forwardly and downwardly from the forward corners o fthe trailer frame, as would be an ideal arrangement structurally, themaximum angularity between tractor and trailer is so limited byinterference between the yoke drawbar structure and the tractor treails,that the minimum turning radius of the team, (tractor and trailer,)makes the team Very unserviceable in the i'ield. lVhere a single drawbarmember is substituted for the yoke, extending forwardly and downwardly,and centrally of the trailer frame, the same operating limitationsfollow, although of course in lesser degree. where the yoke drawbarstructure is brought forwardly in the plane of the trailer frame, andincludes a downwardly extending member at its forward end, the sameundesirable conditions arise where the tractor running gear diameter islarge as it frequently is.

It is an object of our invention to provide a trailer of the classdescribed with drawbar means which shall render the trailer serviceablewith any tractor means of usual contemporary construction, and allow\ample. 90O or more` angularity between tractor and trailer. Briefly, ourinvention comprises in this respect the provision of an arched drawbarconiprising a single drawbar tongue inember extending forwardly of thetractor frame, as in the plane thereof or in a parallel planethereabove, with a drawbar hitch member downwardly extending from theforward end of the tongue member and vproviding for connection withtractor hitch means.

A further object of our invention is to provide parts for the generalarrangement described, such that the assembly-'shall be structurallyetticient as well as novel. 1

Still a further object of our invention is to provide hitch means at therear of the vchiele as on the frame, and means on the drawbar hitchmember and intermediate the ends of the latter, providing forcolinection with the rear hitch means of a similar vehicle, whereby aplurality of such vehicles may be assembled in a train with any thereofin leading position, and tractor means hitched to the lea-ding vehicle.

The exact nature of our invention together with further objects andadvantages ther of will be apparent from the following description takenin connection with the accompanying` drawings in which Fig. 1 is a.perspective view of an embodiment ofour invention taken from the forwardleft quarter and showing the vehicle body in normal horizontal orrunning position, and the dumping doors thereof open; Fig. 2 is a planeview of .the same showing the doors in closed or loadcarrying position,and in brokenlines indi- Likewise, Y

eating the relative position of the rear portion of aA typical tractorto which our trailer is hitched and with which the trailer is in sharpangular relation; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed view as in thevertical plano of line 3 3, Fig. 2. of our improved drawbar showingdetails of the same, partly by section, and illustrating the preferredmanner of relating and securing the same with the frame of the vehicle.

lVith reference now to the drawings, thc frame of the vehicle is ofgenerally rectangular forni, built up of structural steel sectionsincluding front and rear end members 1. 2, and side members 3. A hopper4 is mounted on the "frame, the base of the hopper being shorter thanthe frame which latter. therefore. extends longitudinally therebeyond.Preferably the frame includes transverse members located between theframe side lilcinbcrs 2l and along the hopper end walls at their bases.The frame may also include a plate (i arranged transversely andoverlying the forward frame member 1 and extending adjacent the forwardhopper end.

Hinged to the side members of the trame for swinging movement betweenhorizontal closed position as indicated Fig. 2. and downwardly andoutwardly therefrom to open on dumping position as indicated Fig. 1, area pair ot" doors 'i'. A drum 8 controlled by levers t) is arranged as onthe rear wall of the hopper at. and a line 10 vled therefrom oversuitable sheaves on doors and frame for the purpose of controlling thedoors. Thus the parts described constitute generallya loadcontainingbody having a dumping bottom.

Mobile supporting means for this body are provided and in the embodimentshown comprise axle lmeans of generally inverted U- form having atransverse member 11 arranged intermediate the frame ends and passingthrough the side frame members. with its ends fixed in brackets 12. Thebrackets in turn are secured with the side frame members and extenddownwardly therefrom and carry at their ends outwardly turned stub axles13. Running gear located on either side of the frame is associated withthe stub axles 13, and as illustrated, the running gear is of thewellknown Creeper type comprising paired wheels 14 mounted on rockerbeam 15 and having trained thereabout an endless tread linkage 16, theruiming gear being more or less conventionally shown. Thus the axlemeans by it's arched form has immediate 4connection with the framesupporting the same well above the ground that the doors may clear theground in open position, and whereby both axle means and frame willclear the dumped load.

lt will be noted that the trailer body is free to tilt in fore and aftdirections about the running gear and in the embodiment shown, upon anaxis common with the stub shafts 13.

The axle means is substantially medial of the body so that the body issubstantially balanced upon the running gear lwhether or not a.

load is being carried. Thus the trailer is gen# erally of cart ortwo-wheeled type as distinguished from wagon or four-wheeled type.

At the rear" of the frame and centrally thereof as secured with therearmember 2, is a hitch means 17 of any suitable form.

For the front of the trailer we provide draft means of arched formandhaving as its principal. members a' forwardly-extending tongue member 18and a hitch member 19 secured at the forward end thereof and downwardlyextending therefrom.

The tongue member 18 is hollow or tubular as indicated Fig. 3, andpreferably is of circular and'seamless section, and straight, that is,not bent.

The member 18 is preferably mounted to lie in aplane above that of thetrailer frame;

and to this end we provide a pairaof spaced y rearwardly just behind thebracket 21 andthus adjacent the The hitch member'19 of the drawbar has arear face or flange 22 through which the tongue 18 passes, these partsbeing welded together as in the case of the brackets 20, 21; and thetongue has a forward face. or iiange 23 extending upwardly to close thefront of the tongue 418 with which it is welded. The member 19 also hasa central web extending between the flanges 22 and 23 and upwardly tothe tongue 18 with which it is welded; so that in typical horizontalsection the' hitch member is of H or I form. Thus the drawbar forms ineffect an integral unit removably secured with the frame as by the boltsindicated. l f

The hitch member 19 is provided at its forward end of the hoplowerextremity with an opening 24 longitudianal of the vehicle and adapted toreceive the vusual draft bolt 26 with draft eye 27 for t-he `f`purposeof establishing a hitch with a tractor drawbar. Above the opening 24 inthe plane of the rear hitch means 17 and thus in the plane of thetrailer frame, is an opening 25 parallel with the opening 24, and thuslikewise adapted to optionally receive vthe draft bolt. .The parts areso proportioned and arranged that when the hitch is established with thetractor drawbar, usingthe opening 24 for the purpose, the trailer bodywill be maintained in the horizontal position indicated Figs. 1 and 3.In this positionpof the trailer a sharp angularity such as the 90relation indicated Fig. 2, may be assumed by the members of the teamthus formed and, if it is desired to add another similar trailer to thefirst trailer to make a train, the opening 25 of the second trailer isused to receive a draft bolt the eye of which may be coupled with therear hitch means of the first trailer by means of the usual couplingpin. Thus the body of the second trailer will be maintained inhorizontal position by the tractor actingthrough the first trailer.Similarly, more trailers may be added to the train up to the drawbarcapacity of the tractor, and all will be maintained in horizontalposition, yet

without imposing undue or substantially increased vertical load on thetractor, this be- \cause of the substantial balance of the body ofeach-trailer on its running gear.

Attention is called to the extreme simplicity of the drawbar structure.The drawbar comprises la single pair of members, a straight horizontallydisposed tubular tongue member and a straight vertically disposed hitchmember of I section. Under many con# ditions of service the tractordrawbarpull is.

in atrausverse plane resulting in a crank action in which the hitchmember acts as a crank upon the tongue member. Thus the tongue member issubjected to severe stresses in torque and must be of ample size to takecare of these stresses. The tongue member is short, and when it is ofsuiiicient transverse dimension. to take care of these stresses, bendingoperationsin fabrication of the tongue member become very impractical.The hitch member on the other hand, by the arrange.

ment described, is only subjected to bending and to maximum bending onlyin planes i either longitudinal or transverse to the vertical. Thus theI section inthe hitch member is ideal. Likewise, whether the web of thehitch member extend longitudinally as shown, or transversely, the hitchmember flanges are very nicely adapted to extend upwardly into the zoneof the tongue member as shown, for securement with the tongue member.

Preferably the parts are so proportioned` and arranged, and this followsfrom the weight of the trailer drawbarlthat the trailer whilesubstantially balanced upon its running gear has a slight preponderanceof balance forwardly so that in case of breakage or release of thehitch, the trailer body will tilt forwardly rather than rearwardly. In

such case the tilt is slight owing to the down` ward extension of thehitch member A. 19.

lio

Thus, limiting the tilt vis important since the center of mass of thetiltingparts, that is of the body including the drawbar, is necessarilyconsiderably above the axis of tilt, so

that each additional angle of tilt increases the out-of-balance ingreater proportion than the angularity increases.

lVe have found that with the arrangement described, a dump trailer maybe easily proportioned so that a single man can raise the forward endsutliciently otf the ground to efect a hitch with either the tractor, orsimilar trailer in operating position, and this notwithstandingl atrail-er weight of several tons.

We claim:

1. r dump trailer cart provided at one end with a fixed drawbar havingseparate hitch means at two levels, the lower for connection with atractor and the upper for connection to another similar trailer in atrain, said drawbar being arched to clear the treads of a tractor towhich it may be hitched, said trailer having at its other end hitchmeans at the upper of said levels.

2. In a vehicle of the class described and having an elevatedload-carrying body and mobile supporting means therefor, hitch means atthe rear of said body, and drawbar means at the front of said body andcomprising a tongue member extending forwardly of the body and carryingat its forward end a depending hitch member, and having the lowestextremity of a portion intermediate the body and the hitch memberelevated above the lowermost forward body portion, said hitch memberextending` downwardly below the elevation of said rear hitch means andhaving at its lower end hitch means for connection with tractor hitchmeans, and

having at the elevation of said rear hitch means, hitch means forconnection with the rear hitch means of a similar vehicle.

3. In a vehicle of the class described and having an elevatedhoriozntally disposed franie, an arched drawbar having a singlehorizontal tongue member, overlying and secured with said frame andextending forwardly thereof, with a hitch member downwardly extendingfrom the forward end of said tongue member and having at its lower endhitch means for connection with tractor hitch means located betweentractor treads and below the plane of said frame, hitch means at therear of said frame, said hitch member having hitch means in the plane ofsaid frame for connection with the rear hitch means of a similarvehicle.

4. In a vehicle of the class described and having an elevated frame, adrawbar having a single straight tongue member, overlying and securedwith said frame and extending forwardly thereof, with a hitch memberdownwardly extending from the forward end of said tongue member andhaving at its lower end hitch means for connection with tractor hitchmeans locat'ed between tractor treads, said hitch member being of I forminhorizontal section,.with the flange portions of the section extendinginto the Zone of said tongue member' and secured thcre with. l

In testimony whereof we hereby atlix our signatures. i

ARTHUR P. ARMINGTON. STEWART F. ARMINGTON.

